Suspended seating construction



United States Patent [72) Inventor Carling D. Allen Cirelevllle, Utah [21] AppLNo. 149,204

[22] Filed .Iuly3l, 1968 [45] Patented Dee.l5,1970 t [73] Assignee Unidine lnternatlonalCorporatlon Provo, Utah a corporation of Utah 54] SUSPENDED SEATING CONSTRUCTION ask" Primary Examiner-James T. McCall Attorney-M. Ralph Shaffer ABSTRMIT: The present invention relates to suspended seat:

ing and, more particularly, to new and improved suspended seating and table constructions therefor which may be used in a number of contexts such as schools, auditoriums, homes, cafe counters, and so forth. In a particular embodiment of the invention spring means are incorporated in the suspended seating constructions to return the suspension arms of the seating constructions to their stored condition when not in use and, additionally, to return the seats themselves to a desired position when not in use. Advantage is made of the spring means such that there is not only enabled a return rotational displacement of the suspension am of the particular seat about its axis, but also a return of the seat installed on the suspension arm relative to its own axis. Suitable stop means are provided for purposes hereinafter described.

PATENTEUDECISISYU 3 547 4 4 SHEET 1 [IF 3 o 0 Q INVENTOR. CARUNG D. ALLEN HIS ATTORNEY PATENTEB um 519m SHEU 3 BF 3 INVENTOR. CARLBNG D. ALLEN fl m 4,

HIS ATTORNEY Flaw 1 SUSPENDED SEATING CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATION.

The present invention relates to suspended seating construction and, more particularly, to a" newand improved suspended seating construction which is highly versatile, solid, and which provides for complete access beneath the seating constructions of floor areas which are to be maintained, swept, andsoforth.

Accordingly, a particular object of the present invention is to provide new and improved, suspended seating constructions. 7 I

A further object is to provide a seating construction of the type described wherein the backs of the-seats are automatically returned to desired position once a user leaves his seat.

An additional object is to provide a suspended seating construction means for automatically restoring the suspension arm of the seating construction to its intended position for storage when the seat is not in use. p

An additional object is to provide a suitable, composite, spring construction for returning theseat to stored position not only as to suspension arm placement but as to seat-back placement as well. 7

A further object is to provide .a. new and improved suspended seating construction suitable for school room and auditorium use. v

An additional object is to provide suspended seating and table or desk constructions wherein suitable, mutually spaced structural members, and attachment means therefor, can be used not only to suspend the seating, but also to render the entire construction suitable for easy maintenance and access to maintenance personnel for sweeping, mopping, and other purposes. Y 3

An additional object is to provide -a stabilized, fulcrumed desk and seating construction wherein the weight of the users of the suspended seats is offset by' tie rod :means suitably disposed in the construction.

An additional object is to provide suspended seating and desk, table, or counter-top constructionswherein utility areas are provided'in front of the desk construction for users situated forwardly of the construction.

An additional object is to provide suspended seating desk and table constructionswherein convenient and inexpensively manufactured structural'means can be-employed in conjunction ,with spaced, partition supportssuch that a pair of suspended seats can be-supported above floor level by a single upright structural member, incorporating suitable journal boxes.

The features of the present inventionwhich are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, bothas to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 1

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a table and suspended seating construction made in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention and utilizable in dining rooms, for example.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary," bottom view of the I working apparatus of the structure of FIG. 1' wherein the seats are disposed inwardly, forstorage purposes, one dotted line configurement displays the seating position of a respective seat structure. 1

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detaiL'taken principally in section along the line .3-3 in FIG. 2, of a representative suspension arm of the suspended seating construction and its joumaling and attachment to the table and seat employed in the construction.

FIG. 4 is a transverse section taken along FIG. 3. v

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section detail of an alternate form of the invention so far as the torsion meansutilized with the seat is concerned.

the line 44 ii.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary detail view taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentaryvdetail, is principally in section, and corresponds to the journal area of the upper portion of the suspension arm in an alternate embodiment thereof.

FIG. 8 is a elevation of a cafe counter incorporating the I suspended seats in the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a section view taken along the line 9-9 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged detail taken along the arcuate line 10-10 in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 9 but it illustrates an al temate form of the invention wherein a single, C-configured structural member is used to support the suspended seating above the floor.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged detail taken along the line 12-12 in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 illustrates the construction of FIG. 11, reversed as to direction of orientation, wherein the structures are tiered to provide successive rows of seating.

In FIG. 1 the table 10 includes a tabletop 11 and apron 12 secured thereto and depending therefrom in the manner as illustrated in FIG. 3. The table 10 is supported by a plurality of legs 13 the lower extremities 14 of which are offset with respect to upper portions 15 thereof. The purpose for this is to provide for increased support of the table by virtue of the inclusion of the swing-out chair means (chairs or stools) which will be later described. Each of the chair means 16 includes a back 17 and a seat 18. The back is provided with a back rest 19 made of usual reinforced foam construction in a conventional manner, with the back being supported to seat 18 by means of back-rest supports 19' and 20. These latter are secured to the back by means of screws, bolts or other conventional attachments. The lower extremities of the back supports 19 and 20-may be provided with brackets 21 and 22, see FIG. 2, which brackets are secured by bolts or other means 23 to seat 18. See FIG. 2 in this regard. Seat 18, see FIG. 3, preferably includes a rigid base 24 made of wood or other material. Disposed on top of the seat base 24 is foam material 25 which is covered by a flexible cover 26 taking the form of any one of a number of suitable plastic-type covers. The cover may be stapled or otherwise retained to the seat base 24 in a conventional manner. I

Secured to the underside of the seat base 24 is seat plate 27. Such securement may be accomplished by means of a plurality of studs 28 which thread into tee nuts 29 anchored to the seat base in a manner illustrated in FIG. 3.Selected ones of the studs 28 may be provided with resilient sleeve bumpers 30 in a manner and for the purpose hereinafter explained.

To the seat plate 27 is welded a ring 31, see FIG. 3. To the ring 31 is welded a seat plate shaft 32. Surrounding shaft 32 are a pair of cylindrical bearings 33 and 34, bearing 33 being flanged as indicated. Suspension arm 35, hereinafter to be described in greater detail, is provided with a housing 36 welded to the lower end thereof and comprising a portion of a seat shaft journal box 37. Weldedto cylindrical housing 36 is an inner cylindrical member or sleeve 38. The same is shown to engage both of the bearings 33 and 34. Inner cylindrical member 38 is provided with a pair of opposite, lower end slots 39 for receiving the ends of spring pin 40. The pin 40 thus keys, at end slots 39, the lower end of torsion spring 41 to journal box 37. The upper end of torsion spring 41 is keyed at 42 to a slot 43, for example, contained in the seat base 24.

In operation, then, suspension arm-35 in having the journal box 37 is free to rotate, relative to chair means 16, about the longitudinal axis A of torsion spring41. Rotational displacements of suspension arm 35 about the axis A of torsion spring 41 will be accompanied by the winding, for example, of the torsion spring. The torsion force built up in a spring will cause the seat to be returned to its initial position when a user has left his seated position on the seat.

Suspension arm 35 is provided with an upstanding protuberance or stop abutment 43 which is welded at W to the suspension arm 35 as indicated. protuberance 43 serves as a stop abutment for selectively engaging the resilient sleeve bumper 30 attached to one of the studs 28. FIG. 2 illustrates, with regard to the respective seats, that there are disposed a pair of resilient sleeve bumpers 30 on respective studs 28. Stop abutment 43 is shown in dotted line configuration in FIG. 2, being disposed on the opposite side of the suspension ann relative to the view indicated in FIG. 2, and so the stop abutment 43 selectively cooperates with alternate ones of the resilient sleeve bumpers 30 so as to limit the travel of the seat about its axis in both directions, that is, in regards clockwise and counterclockwise rotational displacement of the sleeve relative to the axis.

It is thus seen that the inclusion of the torsion spring 41 in FIG. 3 provides for an automatic parallel alignment of the respective seat backs 17 relative to the apron 12 of the table, this so that when a user has removed himself from the seat and the seat is advanced toward the tabletop apron, in parallel manner. The seat back will automatically become aligned with the tabletop, this by virtue of the restoring force of the spring such that the seat is returned so that the appropriate resilient bumper sleeve 30 engages stop abutment 43. The purpose for the inclusion of the remaining sleeve bumper 30 and its selective cooperation with stop abutment 43, is to prevent the edge of back 19 from bumping apron 12.

FIG. 4 illustrates further in sectional view the structure illustrated in FIG. 3, and shows the keyed spring pin 40 which keys the disposition of the lower end of torsion spring 41 to inner cylindrical member 38.

' FIG. illustrates a slight modification of the construction wherein, in lieu of a torsion spring, a simple rubber torsion bar 45 is employed. Rubber torsion bar 45 includes an aperture 46 through which pin 47 passes. In construction, where the base 24 of the seat is made of wood such as 3/4-inch plywood, for example, the initial placement of pin 47 will make its own keyway or recess in the wood upon the bolted securement of seat plate 27 to base 24. Of course, it will be understood that an independent tool may be used to provide a keying slot to receive in keying relationship the pin 47. An aperture 48 may be provided, if desired, into the base 24 to accommodate the upper end of the rubber torsion 45. The lower end of the torsion bar is provided with an aperture 49 receiving the retainer pin 50in FIG. 5, which pin corresponds to pin 40 in FIG. 3.

The structure in FIG. 5 will operate in an identical manner to that illustrated in FIG. 3. It is obvious that the resilient sleeve bumpers 30 and stop abutment 43 will also be used in the construction in the case of FIG. 5.

The upper portion of FIG. 3 will now be discussed. The table includes a supporting channel frame construction 51. The channel frame may be suitably contoured to provide inwardly disposed annular shoulders 52 and 53. The apertures 54 and 55 may be provided in a conventional punching and flaring operation such that the shoulders 52 and 53 will automatically appear once the punching and flaring operation is completed. Flanged bearings 56 and 57 are next provided and may comprise conventional flanged Oilite" bearings. The channel construction is designed to be interiorly open form inside so as to admit the placement of sleeve 58 laterally, once the bearings are pressed into their respective apertures, and this to retain these bearings and provide the journal and journal support needed at this point in the construction. Thus, the flanged bearings in the upper portion of FIG. 3 are pressed home in their respective apertures, sleeve 58 is inserted from a lateral point into position, and then the upper portion of suspension arm 35 is inserted upwardly through the sleeve. The upper portion of suspension arm 35 and sleeve 58 is pro vided aligned apertures A to admit bolt 60. Bolt 60 passes through both structures, as illustrated, so as to secure as through a pin-type construction the upper portion of the suspension arm 35 to sleeve 58.

Immediately prior to such securement there will be emplaced on bolt 60 a bumper sleeve 61 next to bolthead 62. Then the remainder of the bolt is passed through the aligned apertures aforementioned, and nut 63 is installed. Upstanding with respect to and affixed to the interior of the channel of the construction is a respective bumper stop 64 which may be welded into place within the channel as at W. It is the bumper sleeve 61 associated with bolt 60 that engages the bumper stop 64. The construction of the bumper stop 64 and its placement within the channel and relationship with respect to bolt 60 will be such that the bumper sleeve 61 will engage bumper stop 64 where the seat is in its extreme, out-position as seen in the right foreground of FIG. 1.

Returning to FIG. 3, it is seen that a spring 65 may be provided and one end of which at 65' can be engaged with bolt 60 of bolthead 62. A preferred type of engagement is seen in FIG. 6 wherein a spring arm 67 is welded at W to the bolthead 62. A link 68 enter engages the associated end of spring 65, and the opposite end of the spring, see FIG. 2, is maintained by an anchor 69 that is engaged with the undersurface of tabletop 11. Depending upon the model of table used, the anchor may be disposed either on the underside of the tabletop itself or directly to the channel frame 51, if desired.

FIG. 6 illustrates the structure in the device with the suspension arm 35 shown first in one position (in solid configuration) and then the suspension arm rotationally displaced to achieve the dotted line configuration at 35 in FIG. 6. The purpose, hence, for the inclusion of spring 65 and its mounting, as illustrated, is to return the suspension arm to its withdrawn position once the user has left the seat. Accordingly, by virtue of the inclusion of the structure either in FIG. 3 or in FIG. 5 relative to rotation of the seat, and also the structure of FIG. 6 and the upper portion of FIG. 3 relating to the rotation of the suspension arm, it will be seen that there is a simultaneous and automatic spring action as applies both to the seat and also to the suspension arm such that the suspension arm is returned inwardly automatically, and this accompanied by a corresponding and appropriate motion of the seat relative to its pivot axis such that back 19 comes into parallel alignment engagement with the apron 12 of the tabletop.

FIG. 7 illustrates a slight modification of the structure relative to FIG. 6 and the upper portion of FIG. 3. Specifically, a torsion spring 71 has a lower end 72 secured to the channel construction 51 by means of a mounting screw 73. The upper end of the torsion spring is configured at 74 for mounting to bolt 60. Accordingly, the spring in FIG. 7 acts much like the spring in FIG. 3, however, this time is a torsion spring circumscribing the suspension arm construction and aligned for its automatic restoration to closed position, once the user leaves his seat by virtue of the action of the torsion spring. Bumper sleeve 59 and bumper stop 64 are used, as well, in limiting the outward displacement of the suspension arm or, in certain circumstances, the inward motion as well. It will be noted that the placement of the bumper and bumper stop heretofore described will be determined by the usage of the equipment and whether or not it be desired that the outward movement of the suspension arm be delimited, or the inward movement thereof (to prevent the seat back from hitting the apron area of the table), or both. In such situations the stops will be used to limit the travel of the suspension arm in both directions.

FIG. 11 illustrates the invention when used in the context of classroom seating, in cafes as counters and so forth. Floor 78, for example, may be a poured cement floor having upstanding studs 79 and 80. Member 81 is a structural steel member, may be tubular in construction, and is open ended and suitably apertured to provide for its attachment to studs 79, 80, by nuts 82, 87 thereto, and also to provide for the pivot structure 83 which may be substantially identical to the structure 83 in the upper portion of FIG. 3. Chair means 16' may be substituted for the chair means 16 in FIG. 1 and be provided with no back, where desired. The journal box 37, however, may be included as in FIG. 3. In a preferred construction of the invention the structural member 81 is simply provided as a base construction to which will be welded suitable channel framings such as framing 51 in the upper portion of FIG. 3. It will be seen therefor that the structural framing 51, when used in the context of the invention as shown in FIG. 11, will include the identical suspension arm pivot structure as heretofore explained in connection with the upper part of FIG. 3. Where desired, angle iron bases 80, 81, 82' and 83 may be provided, the first three for the mounting of shelf or utility structures as at 84, 85 and 86. The lower angle iron 83 may be engaged with stud 79 and a suitable securement means such as anchor nut 87 employed.

The structure in FIG. 11 is designed to be freestanding, by virtue of the contemplated weight of the steel structure 81 plus the shelf construction of the forward end thereof; it is believed that the weight of the user on'the seat 16, when the same is extended, will not tend to tip thestructure over. Particularly will this be true when a vertical line, drawn from the center gravity through the seat 16 when the same is extended, is not displaced too great a distance relative to stud 80 in the concrete floor. However, in certain constructions it may well be desireable, even necessary, to anchor the forward end of the frame at F to the fioor. Particularlywill this be true where the rearward portion F of the structural member, serving as a fulcrum, is displaced a marked distance relative to the center of the seat 16 when the same is extended.

FIG. 13 illustrates the construction of FIG.- 11, reversed as to direction of orientation, wherein the structures are tiered to provide for successive rows of seating.

Relative to FIG. 13 it will be seen that there exists a tremendous advantage as to tiered constructions utilizing the present invention, particularly from a custodian and maintenance point of view. The seat can be swung completely out of the way and a custodian sweep the floor in an unobstructed manner. It is to be noted that the lower portion as at X of structural member 81 can be disposed completely within or be made flush with the concrete or the type floor as at X, so that a smooth fioor surface is presented to the custodian. Also to be observed is the fact that a space Y is. disposed beneath the structural member 81.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a counter top construction which is substantially similar to the FIG. 11 in the embodiment. In the case of FIGS. 8 and 9 there is a base structural member 88 that is secured by embedded studs or lugs 89 and cooperation therewith of nuts 90. Wood paneling 91 may cover the construction where desired, and wood shelves 92 may be included when desired. Of importance in the structure of FIGS. 8 and 9 is the inclusion of the upper rigid structure 93 which may take the form of channel framing as at 51 in FIG. 3 and, in addition, a respective transverse structural member. 94 welded or otherwise secured thereto. Members 88 and'94. in FIG. 9 may comprise square tubing where desired. The lower side 95 of member 94 as well as the upper side 96 of member 88 may be suitably apertured to provide for a support pole construction at 99 and a tie rod construction at 100. The support pole 99 may comprise a tube 101, nut 102 welded to the upper end of tube 101, and cap screw 103 welded to the lower end of tube 101. Cap screw 103 assumes a threaded engagement with a corresponding threaded aperture 104. A nut 104 is welded to the upper surface of structural member 88'and cap screw 103 threadedly proceeds therethrough. Nut 105 is welded to the lower surfaceof structural member 93.-Stud means 106 may comprise a unitary stud, or a two-piece stud, in which opposite halves are threaded in opposite directions (see FIG. Lock nuts 107 and'108 are employed to lock the structure into position, once the stud has been adjusted and the pole 101 is disposed in place such that the proper height exists relative to structure 93 above structure 88. v

To complete the construction, a tie rod 100 is provided with a threaded end portion 109 which passes through the upper side 96 of structure 88. Nuts 110 and 111 are disposed on op posite sides of this upper side and are tightly threaded down to the cooperating surfaces of 88. A collar 111 is pinned or otherwise secured in place in the manner illustrated in FIG. 9, and the upper threaded end 112 of tie rod 100 is provided with nuts 113 and l14on either side of the lower side 115 of structure 93. Accordingly, once this threaded end is placed in position, the nuts are properly tightened so that there may be provided an exact leveling of the structure 94 relative to the floor, or to structure 88 if the latter is level. Additionally, it is seen that the tie rod 100 serves as a tension means for restraining any force moment that develops as the consequence of the existence of an effective fulcrum at F" when a user is sitting on the seat 16, when extended.

The purpose for the inclusion of pin collar 111 might be noted. Its purpose is to take complete advantage of the full weight of the counter construction in offsetting the weight of a person when seated on the stool 16.

FIG. 12 illustrates slightly modified structure, is taken along the line 12-12 in FIG. 11, and illustrates that suspension arms 35 may be pivoted to channel structure 51, on immediately opposite sides of supporting post structural member 81, so that maximum support can be obtained for the seating structure used. This adds installation flexibility in that the structural members 81 can be disposed at any particular point or any given number of points and at different locations, thus, the channel structure 51 simply may be secured thereto, and preferably thereover, so as to provide journal bearing boxes for the suspension arms 35 of the individual seats.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects.

Iclaim:

1. In combination, a tabletop, means for supporting said tabletop above a floor, a suspension arm supportingly journaled to and underneath said tabletop and constructed to be spaced above said floor, chair means including a back, secured to and supported by said suspension arm and disposed above said floor, said chair means and suspension arm being constructed for selective storage disposition of said chair means at least in part underneath said tabletop and also for withdrawal from such position to seat a person at said tabletop, first spring means for returning said chair means, when unused, toward said tabletop, and second spring means for aligning said back with said tabletop when said chair means is unoccupied.

2. Structure according to Claim 1 wherein said suspension arm and tabletop include mutually cooperable stop means, and wherein said chair means and suspension arm also include mutually cooperable stop means.

3. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said tabletop includes a support frame, each of said spring means comprising a torsion spring interengaging, respectively, said chair means and said suspension arm, and said suspension arm and said tabletop, said suspension arm being journaled to said support frame. 1 p

4. Structure according to claim 1 wherein 'said first spring means comprises a particular spring means operatively engaging said tabletop and said suspension arm for automatically returning said suspension arm to a position underneath said tabletop when said chair means is unused, said second spring means comprising a particular springmeans operatively interengaging said suspension arm and said chair means for aligning said back with said tabletop when said chair means is unused.

5. In combination, a floor structure having plural, stepdown tiers, a tabletop, seat means suspended from said tabletop above said floor construction, and support post structure means mounted to said floor structure at one tier and extending forwardly over and spaced from a next lower tier and at that point upwardly to engagingly support said tabletop.

6. In combination, a tabletop, suspended chair means dependingly supported from and journaled to said tabletop, base structure mounted to a floor, upright structure mounted to and between said base structure and said tabletop such as to enable the leveling adjustment of the latter, and threaded tie rod means including adjustable nut means for leveling said tabletop, said tie rod means being operably disposed between said tabletop and said base structure.

justing extensible means, and said leveling means comprises extensible tension-type tie rod means secured to and between said tabletop and said base structure forwardly of said upright structure.

8. Structure according to claim 5 wherein said support post structure is recessed in said floor structure. 

